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The origins of the First Dragonlords - nicknamed "Avalon's Silver Claws" - lay in the formation of the Star League and the establishment of the Star League Defense Force. With the significant drawdown of military forces in the wake of the formation of the SLDF, large quantities of military personnel - including some of the best and brightest - found themselves unemployed. Many carried on with the only skills they had, engaging in piracy and brigandage; as a result, the Star League initiated the United Triumph Military Exercises (UTE) in 2572 as an attempt to deal with some of the problems.[1]

The First and the other regiments of the Dragonlords were all deployed against various of the Periphery States during the Reunification War, with all of the brigade seeing heavy action. The performance of the various regiments earned them a fixed place in the AFFS as front-line commands.[1]

When the Star League Council issued the Council Edict of 2650 limiting the size of the military each Great House was allowed to maintain, the AFFS was required to drawdown in strength sharply, as were the other militaries of the Inner Sphere. The First was one of two regiments within the Dragonlords to remain at full regimental strength following the drawdown, although none of the First's sister regiments were deactivated, with the required reduction in size being met through reducing the other regiments to battalion-strength units.[1]

The First maintained a friendly rivalry with the Davion Assault Guards throughout the Star League era, something the AFFS High Command actively encouraged as the competition helped the First remain a highly-focused unit.[1] When the Star League Council repealed the Edict of 2650 in 2752[2] the Dragonlords quickly returned to full strength as a brigade, and as tensions in the Periphery rose almost the entire of the Dragonlords - including the First - were deployed to worlds along the border between the Federated Suns and the Taurian Concordat. Morale within the First and the other regiments climbed steadily following their deployment as a result of the prospect of fighting old enemies once more.[1]

The preferred tactic of the First Dragonlords was to engage the enemy with its three assault battalions having used their fourth battalion, which was equipped with fast-moving medium and heavy BattleMechs, as beaters.[1]

- The First were stationed on Hyalite at this point in time[3] and the first, second and third battalions of the First Dragonlords were equipped with assault 'Mechs with an average weight of eighty-five tons; the fourth battalion was equipped with fast heavy and medium 'Mechs.[1]